Pipe holds key to big race odds

Punters and bookmakers were last night waiting for Martin Pipe to show his hand for the Great Yorkshire Chase at Doncaster. The trainer's Barryscourt Lad has been installed the 7-2 favourite for Saturday's race.

If Barryscourt Lad actually lined up he would be likely to start at much shorter odds. Pipe also has Horus and Carryonharry among the entries. But it was Andrew Balding's Gunner Welburn who was supported yesterday.

The 11-year-old former hunter chaser was third in the Welsh National at Chepstow just after Christmas.

GREAT YORKSHIRE CHASE (Doncaster, three miles: Saturday): William Hill ante-post odds: 7-2 Barryscourt Lad, 7-1 Gunner Welburn, 8-1 Joss Naylor, 9-1 Horus, La Landiere, 10-1 Carryonharry, 12-1 Bold Investor, Silver Steel, 14-1 Ifni du Lac, Run For Paddy, Ryalux, Spendid, Tom Costalot, 16-1 others.